Yarn laying mechanism for straightbar hosiery machines



June 6, 1939. A w. MUTCHLER 6 IARN LAYING MECHANISM FOR STRAIGHT-BARHOSIERY MACHINES Filed Aug. 13, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR ArTh urW. MuTchler ATTORNEY June 6, 1939- A. w. MUTCHLER 2,161,550

YARN LAYING MECHANISM FOR STRAIGHT-BAR HOSIERY MACHINES I Filed Aug. 15,1932 4 Sheeis-Sheet 2 INVENT OR.

ATTORNEY.

June 6, 1939- w. MUTCHLER 2,151,550

YARN LAYING MECHANISM FOR STRAIGHT-BAR HOSIERY MACHINES' Fi led Aqg. 15,1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR ArTllur \A/ MUTBI-IIEr BY M Aw TTORNEYJune 6, 1939. A, w. MUTCHLER 2,161,550

YARN LAYING MECHANISM FOR STRAIGHT-BAR HOSIERY MACHINES Filed Aug. 13,1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 NTOR Arfhur MuTnhler BY m WWRNEY Patented June 6,1939 YARN LAYING MECHANISM FOR STRAIGHT- BAR HOSIERY MACHINES Arthur W.MutchIerrBangor, Pa., assignor to Julius Kayser 8t 00., New York, N. Y.

Application August 13, I932, Serial No. 628,672

39 Claims.

This invention relates to straight bar hosiery machines and, moreparticularly, to machines for the manufacture of full fashionedstockings and.

to multiple yarn laying mechanism for successively laying or feeding aplurality of independent yarns in a regular, predetermined, repeated se--quence.

At present, it is usual in knitting the main portion of a full fashionedstocking to employ a single l0 thread carrier, the carrier being causedto reciprocate in the normal manner to lay a single thread in therepeated knitting of course after course of the stocking.

The principal object of the present invention resides in the provisionof a mechanism incorporated in a full fashioned stocking knitting ma- Qchine consisting of devices that are so designed and operated that threeindependent yarn carg riers are successively operated in repeatedsequence for knitting single courses from independent yarns,accomplished by manipulating said devices in a manner that the threeyarn carriers are operated one at a time successively,

this cycle of operation being repeated over and as over again in theknitting of the stocking.

An'objectof my invention is to provide means operated in proper timerelation with operative parts of a full fashioned knitting machinewhereby a plurality of independent threads, prefer -ably three, aresuccessively laid into knitting position in regular orderQand this orderrepeated asoften as required in the knitting of the stocking so thateach individual thread recurs only in every third course of the stockingwith the re- I -.35 suit that a variation in thickness of one of thethreads will not result in an apparent irregularity in' the appearanceand thickness of the stocking, as is the case when a single thread isemployed.

'40 Another object of my invention resides in the construction andassociation of the parts ofthe mechanism whereby three yarn carrierswill be successively manipulated and this cycle of operation-repeatedany desired number of times, the devices being operated directly from apower element of the knitting machine without the use of a patternchain.

A further object of my invention is to provide automatic means whereby aplurality of thread carriers are automatically put into and out ofoperation in a regular predetermined successive order, which order isrepeated over and over so as toautomatically lay a plurality of threadsina repeated sequence, operating the automatic 45 means directly fromthe slur bar device of the heretofore in use.

with these and other objects in view, my invention consists in the novelconstruction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described, illustratedin the accompanying drawings and particularly pointed out in theappended claims it being understood-that various changes maybe 10 madein the construction, arrangement and operation without departing. fromthespirit of theinvention or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof.a v

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of the mechanism adapted forthelaying of three'separate threads, and showingfcertain parts of theknitting machine to which it is attached.

Figure 2 is a side view looking on the righthand side of Figure 1 andshowing certain parts of the machine in cross section.

Figure 3 is a detail view showing apart-of the appliance in theimperative position.

Figure 4 is a rear elevation showing part of the mechanism forselectingthe thread to be laid. as

Figure 5 is a detail view, in front elevation. showing the engagement ofthe operating means with one of the carrier rods.

Figure 6' is a view showing 'a portion of a fashioned stockinghaving-three similaror con- 30 trasting. threads laid inregularsuccession by the slur bar of a well known form ofhosiery 3a knittingmachineiFigme' 2a is a diagrammatic view of the gear connection betweenthe Coulier motion and the main cam shaft. 0

1 JI'his invention was particularly designed for the production of thattype of stocking set forth 40 and described in the patent to KaufmanNumber 1,969,307, wherein is illustrated and described the so-calledringless type of stocking knitted from three separate and independentyarns, each of which is laid for a single course only, until the seriesof three yarns has been laid, and then this sequence of laying threeseparate yarns is repeated through the knitting of the stocking, therebydistributing irregularities in thickness of the threads in a manner toeliminate rings in the b0 finished, dyed stockings.

Although the patent to Kaufman referred to illustrates and describes thestocking and method of making the same and, further, illustrates inv thedrawings two yarn carriirs atone end of the machine and one yarn carrierat the other end of the machine, great difliculty was experienced in theinitial production of the Kaufman stocking, chiefly due to themechanical operation of a straight bar knitting machine and thenecessity of directly operating from a power member of the knittingmachine each of the three carriers, one

at a time, successively, and then repeating this.

full desired results, not only as to operation, but

in the production 01' a perfect stocking incorporating the Kaufmaninvention. Certain of these striping attachments would produce washboardeffects in the stocking, and others would create undesirable selvedgedefects, while others would produce other undesirable knitting defects.

The fabric shown at Figure 6 of the drawings illustrates the type offabric covered by the Kaufman Patent No. 1,969,307 and is knitted in theusual way, except that three thread carriers are employed to lay threeindividual threads. In forming the fabric the thread I is laid by itscarrier from right to left so as to form the course a, and thread 2 isthen moved to the right so as to lay course b, and the thread 3 is thenmoved to the left to lay the course 0, after which the thread I is movedto the right to lay the course d, and the operation is thus continued.The mechanism is designed for adaptation to various types of flatknitting machines and in one of its forms is illustrated and describedas associated with those well known types of full-fashioned hosieryknitting machines incorporating a main cam shaft, a slur bar, a frictionrod, a friction box, driving mechanism between the slur bar, frictionrod, and main cam shaft, and adjustably mounted sets of stops forvariably controlling the distances of travel of the carrier rods. It iswell known in such types of machines that the slur bar and friction rodhave a uniform stroke and the fric-.

tion box has frictional engagement with the friction rod to allow theyarn carriers to travel variable distances under control of theassociated stops.

Referring to Figures 1a and 2a, there is illustrated a "Reading type ofCoulier mechanism for establishing a drive connection between the slurbar and the main cam shaft'of the knitting machine. As is well known,the friction rod of the knitting machine is operated cojointly with theslur bar by the Coulier mechanism. Broadly stated, this type of Couliermechanism consists of a roller cam B having a bevel gear connection Cwith the main cam shaft A and this roller cam B actuates the rollers Dcarried by the link mechanism E that is connected to a slide F directlyattached to the slur bar 9.

The rotary motion of the cam shaft A is con-, verted into reciprocatorymotion by the Coulier mechanism so that the slur bar is givenrectilinear movements in opposite directions for the operation of thecarrier rod selecting mechanism in the manner hereinafter set forth.

Thus it will be appreciated that the selecting mechanism receives itspower from the main cam shaft A of the knitting machine due to the factthat the friction rod as well as the slur bar receive their power fromthe main cam shaft A.

In other words, the main cam shaft is the prime mover or power'devicefor furnishing power for the operation of the carrier rod selecting andoperating mechanism.

In Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, 4 is the usual rock shaft for thenarrowing mechanism, 5 is the bed which supports the usual carrier rods6 while 1 is the usual friction rod, 8 is the usual slur-cock guide bar,and 9 is the usual reciprocating slur bar. The shaft 4 is adapted tooperate in the usual manner, but serves also as a guide for thismechanism and in no way affects the operation thereof. The friction rod1 is reciprocated by the Coulier mechanism in the usual way, thuscausing the mechanism to reciprocate in the manner hereinafterdescribed, and to impart motion to certain of the carrier rods 6. Theslur bar 9 is also reciprocated in the usual manner and actuates thethread selecting mechanism in the manner hereinafter set forth.

The mechanism comprises a friction box I0 which is mounted on thefriction rod 1 and has an extension H which fits over the shaft 4 and isguided thereon by means of a lower plate or bridge-piece I2 secured tothe part II, and the box l0 may move freely upon the shaft 4 while beingheld in frictional contact with the rod I by a frictional device of theform well known in connection with the yarn laying mechanism of suchmachines.

Mounted on the box I0 is a rod I3 which servesas a fulcrum for threeswinging arms I4 mounted in slots l5 in the said frame and arranged toextend over certain of the carrier rods 6.

One end of each arm 14 is connected by means of a spring is with a bandI! rigidly secured to the box III, while the opposite end of each arm isformed with a latch member l8 for engagement with a recess IS in abracket 20 secured on one of the carrier rods 6; and the arms I4 are ofdifferent lengths so that they correspond to the positions of the rods 5with which they cooperate.

Each of the brackets 20 may have secured thereon a carrier arm 2| of anysuitable or well-known type for laying the yarn in knitting position andall the carrier arms 2| are so constructed and yarn delivery ends ofthese carrier arms are parallel, and in close proximity, to each otherso that all three yarns are laid in proper position with relation to theneedles and the sinker-s.

On each arm l4 the latch member I8 is pressed downwardly by means of aflat spring 22 mounted on the upper face of said arm, so that a latchmember l8 may yield against the action of its spring 22 in the event ofan arm l4 being moved downwardly at a time when the recess 19 is not inproper position to receive the latch l8 as is the case when a stockingis being narrowed, and when the path of the yarn carriers is varied fromtime to time. Under these conditions the latch l8 rests upon the upperledge of the bracket 20 and moves into cooperative position only afterthe friction rod 1 and the arm l4 have moved into vided with anadjustable stud 25, which is fitted in a screw-threaded hole in the armand is secured by means of a lock-nut 26. Adapted to'engage each of thestuds 251s a cam ,wheel 21 having a series of raised parts 23 andintervening re cesses 23. These three wheels 21 are secured to a shaft36 to which is also secured a ratchet wheel 3| adapted to be operated bya pawl 32 carried by a lever 33 and having a spring 46 for ensuringengagement with the teeth of the ratchet. The lever 33 is freely mountedon the said shaft 36 and has a slot 34'for engagement with a pin 35 on avertical slide bar 36, .which latter is suitably guided in the frame l6and in a depending sleeve 43. The bar 36 carries at its lower end anoperating roller 31 nd at its upper end has a spring 33 by means 0 whichit is drawn downwardly to hold the roller 31 in contact with anoperating rail in such manner that vertical movement of the bar 36imparts a swinging motion to the lever 33, so that the ratchet 3| andthe shaft 36am moved step by step.- The raised portions 23 on each camwheel 21 are arranged in staggered relation to the corresponding partsin adjacent wheels, and the arrangement is such that the stud of one armI4 is raised while the similar studs of the other two arms are held downunder the action of the springs l6 in such manner that one latch I6 isbrought into ,operative position while the other two remain inactive,and by proper arrangement of the raised portions 28 on the cam wheels 21the arms l4 are selected in proper sequence. for the roller 31 eachproject outwardly from a Two guide rails 33 V block 46 secured on theslur-bar 3, by means of set pins 4|, and these blocks 46 are formed withopposed inclined surfaces 42 so that the bar 36 may be allowed todescend under the action of its spring 36 and may be raised against theaction of such spring while the pin in the slot 34 imparts swingingmovement to the lever 33 and thus imparts a step-by-step motion to theratchet 3|.

Attention is called to the fact that the heretofore described mechanismwith the exception of blocks 46, is directly supported upon and iscarried by the friction box |6 so that in the frictional movement of thebox I6 by the friction rod 1, the mechanism will reciprocate with thefriction box. This arrangement assures the proper engagement anddisengagement of the arms M with the yarn carrier bars in the repeatedsequenceof travel for single courses and, further, assures the properpositioning of the operating roller 31 in relation to the blocks 46 whenthe slur bar reaches either of its extreme positions.

In the ordinary operation of a full-fashioned hosiery. knitting machine,reciprocating motion is imparted to the friction rod 1 and also to theslur bar 3 by the Coulier mechanism and the arrangement of the blocks 46and rails 33 on the slur bar 3 is such that during the motion of acarrier rod 6 with its arm H by the friction rod 1, the roller 31 isretained in its upper position by engagement with the surface of one ofthe rails 33 and after completion of this yarn laying movement, thefurther continued motion of the slur bar 3 brings the blocks 46lntolsuch a position that the roller 31 rides down one of the inclines42 and up the other incline 42 of the associated block 46 therebycausing the pawl 32 to actuate the ratchet wheel 3| for adjusting theselecting mechanism to disengage from its previously engaged carrier rodand engage the next carrier rod that is to be operated for laying theyarn. Thus it will be appreciated that a carrier rod comes to restbefore the arm I4 is disengaged therefrom and another arm moved intoengagement with another carrier rod.

In order to permit disconnection of this yarn laying mechanism as andwhen desired, one of the arms i4 is provided with a latch member 43 (seeFigs. 2 and 3) mounted between brackets 44 on the upperpart of the arml4 and having a crank 45 for convenient manipulation by hand, so thatthe latch 43 may be turned from the position shown at Fig. 2 into thatshown at Fig. 3 in order to raise the spring 22 which has a slottedforked end in engagement with side grooves 41 in an upper extension 48in the latch member l8 for engagement with one of the recesses l3. Torender this mechanism inoperative the pawl 32 is disengaged from theteeth of the ratchet wheel 3| by swinging it in a counter-clockwisedirection and as one of the three latches l3 has thus been put out ofoperation the appliance remains inactive and no step-by-step motion isimparted to the ratchet wheel 3| and the appliance remains inoperativewith the arm that is equipped with the latch-out device 43 in positionto be brought into operation as and when desired.

In setting up the mechanism for the operation thereof, two carriers 2|arranged at one selvedge edge of the fabric, and one carrier 2| isarranged at the other selvedge edge, and for the purpose ofillustration, arrange two carriers 2| at the left selvedge edge of thefabric illustrated in Figure 6, and arrange the third carrier 2| at theright selvedge edge of the fabric. The knitting machine is then put intooperation with the mechanism set to engage one of the arms M with one ofthe yarn carriers at the left of the machine, and this yarn carrier,engaging with the mechanism at the left of'the machine, is moved to theright to form a single course. .When this has been accomplished, themechanism is manipulated to engage the yarn carrier at the right of themachine, which is moved to the left to form a second single course, andwhen this his been accomplished, the mechanism is again manipulated toengage the remaining yarn carrier at the left of the fabric and move'the same to the right to form a third single course, and this sequenceof operation of the three carriers is repeated over and over, tocomplete the knitting of the fabric.

To accomplish this repeated sequence of travel of the three yarncarriers, the three arms H, are thrown into and out of engagement withthe carrier bars 6 in a repeated sequence, accomplished in the followingmanner: As the slur bar 3 reaches its limit of travel, following thecomplete laying of the yarn, for the formation of a single course, theblocks46, acting upon roller 31, will lower and elevate the slide bar 36for giving movement to the pawl 32 which, in turn, gives the desiredmovement to the'ratchet 3| for changing the relation of the raisedportions 26 of the cam wheels with the arms l4 so that the armpreviously engaged with a. yarn carrier bar is raised and an associatedarm moved into engagement with a carrier bar. After this has beenaccomplished, movement of the friction rod 1 carries with it thefriction box l6 and the arms supported thereon, so that the arm |4-engaged with the carrier bar, will move the latter the required distanceto lay the yarn for the forming of a full course. when this has beenaccomplished, the mechanism again functions as just described fordisengaging the second mentioned arm from its yarn carrier and movinginto engagement with another yarn carrier the third arm 14- forperforming a yarn laying operation.

I wish to 'call particular attention to the fact that my yarn layingmechanism operates directly ofi'a power member of the knitting machine,such as the slur bar, or any other power member of the knitting'machine,without the interpositioning of a pattern chain; This isaccomplishedthrough the use of the cam wheels that are provided with auniform arrangement of raised cam portions 28, the cam wheels beingoperated directly from the power member of the machine to have acontinuous movement in one direction for causing the carrier barengaging arms to be successfully operated in predetermined sequence,this cycle of operation being repeated over and over again. I also wishto call attention to the fact that through the use of an independentcontrol arm for each carrier bar, each carrier bar individually can bemoved its full length of travel and effectively held against reboundwhen the same reaches its full length of travel, as the design andcorelation of the various parts, including the cam wheel, is such-thatthe arm does not disconnect from its associated carrier bar until thecarrier bar comes to rest.

Rebounding of the carrier bars is further prevented due to the fact thatthe arms I 4 are directly mounted on the friction box and, therefore, acertain amount of frictional pressure is brought to bear against thearms for frictionally holding the carrier bars against their associatedstops when reaching their limit of travel.

Although the drawings and the above speciflcation disclose the best modein which I have contemplated embodyingmy invention, I desire to be in noway limited to the details of such disclosure, for in the furtherpractical application of my invention many changes in form andconstruction may be made as circumstances require or experience suggestswithout departing from the spirit of the invention within the scope ofthe appended claims.

What I claim is:

L'Yarn-laying mechanism for straight-bar hosiery machines comprising aplurality of arms for cooperation with a plurality of the usual yarncarrier rods, means for automatically and positively moving the armsinto and spring means for moving them out of operative relation withsaid rods, a selector for retaining all but one of said arms in theinoperative position, means for automatically operating the selector tobring the arms into operative position ina predetermined sequence, andmeans for preventingone of the arms from cooperating with its rod.

2. Yarn-laying mechanism for straight-bar hosiery machines comprising areciprocating member, a plurality of carrier-rod actuating elementspivoted on said member, cam means for selectively moving said elementsinto and spring means for moving the same out of operative positionaftermovement of a carrier rod in either direction, spring latch deviceson said elements for engaging said rods and means for disengaging one ofsaid spring latch devices.

3. In yarn-laying mechanism of the character I described, a selectingdevice comprising a plurality of cam wheels, lever and spring latchmeans operated by said wheels for effecting the engagement of themechanism with the usual carrier rods, spring means for effecting the'disengagement, and a movable roller and an inclined guide rail forintermittently rotating the cam actuated from said roller for operatingthe said means for swinging the reciprocating member.

5. Yarn laying mechanism for a straight bar hosiery machine comprising aplurality of arms to operate individual carrier rods, means movablymounted on said arms for engaging said rods, means resiliently urgingsaid engaging means to engaging position, and means to move said armsselectively into and out of positions in which said movable means engagewith said rods to lay a plurality of threads in a predeterminedsequence.

6. Yarn laying mechanism for a straight bar hosiery machine comprising aplurality of movable elements, means movably mounted on said elements toengage the carrier rods, means resiliently urging said engaging means toengaging position, means normally urging said elements to positions inwhich said movable means are out of engagement with said rods, and meansto move said elements selectively to positions in which said movablemeans engage said rods.

7. Yarn laying mechanism. for a straight bar frame, a plurality of armspivoted on said frame on axes parallel to the axis of saidshaft,cooperating recesses and spring latches on said rods and arms forengagement therebetween, cams on said shaft for selectively moving saidarms into positions for engagement of said recesses and latches, springsnormally urging said arms out of engaging position, and cam meansoperated by reciprocation of said frame to turn said shaft at eachmovement of the frame in either direction.

8. Yarn laying mechanism for a straight bar hosiery machine having aplurality of reciprocable carrier rods, comprising a reciprocable frame,a shaft mounted in said'frame with its axis extending in the directionof movement of the frame, a plurality of arms pivoted on said frame onaxes parallel to the axis of said shaft, cooperating brackets and springlatches on said rods and arms for engagement therebetween, cams on saidshaft for selectively moving said arms into positions for engagement of.said brackets and latches, springs normally urging said arms out ofengaging position, a ratchet on said shaft, a lever pivoted on saidshaft, a pawl on said lever engaging said ratchet, a reciprocable rodconnected to said lever, and cam means operated by movement menttherebetween, cams on said shaft for selectively moving said arms intopositions for engagement with said rods, springs normally urging saidarmsout of engaging positions, a ratchet on said shaft, a lever pivotedon said shaft, a

the machine and one positioned at the other end of the machine, anattachment operated directly off said slur bar for successivelyoperating said three carriers, one at a time for travel of a singlecourse only, and then repeating such cycle of .operation.

11. In "combination with the friction box and slur bar of a fullfashioned stocking knitting masequence comprising a plurality of carrierbar engaging elements each independently and movably mounted on saidfriction box to be carried therewith, and means for selectively andindependently moving said arms one at a time into engagement with acarrier bar, said means operated directly from said slur bar in themovement of the latter.

12. In combination with the friction rod, friction box, and slur bar ofa full fashioned knitting machine, mechanism for automatically andselectively engaging and disengaging carrier bars for the operationthereof, said mechanism being supported upon said friction box fortravel therewith and operated periodically by said slur bar.

13. In combination with the friction rod and friction box of a fullfashioned hosiery knitting machine adapted to travel in oppositedirections for variable distances, a plurality of carrier bar I engagingarms each independently, pivotally mounted on said friction box to movetherewith; cam elements for the arms for independently moving the armsindividually into engagement with the carrier bars of the knittingmachin and connected with said box to travel therewit and automaticmechanism for operating said cam elements from an operating part of theknitting machine in accordance with the variable distances of travel ofsaid friction box.

14. A carrier bar operating attachment for full fashioned hosieryknitting machines, comprising in combination, a power device, a set ofyarn carrier bars,- a friction rod} friction box frictionally mounted onsaid rod adapted to travel in opposite directions for variabledistances, a plurality of adjustably mounted armsmounted on saidfriction box and adapted to travel therewith; operating mechanism forsaid arms adapted to selectively move said arms into and out of. lockingengagement with the carrier bars at the end of travel of said frictionbox in either direction said mechanism connected to said friction box totravel therewith and periodically operated by said power device inaccordance with the variable dis--. tances of travel of said frictionbox.

15. In combination with the friction rod, friction boxv and slur bar ofa full fashioned knitting machine. carrier rod driving means carried bysaid friction box, mechanism for automatically and selectively engagingand disengaging said with the knitting cycle of driving means withcarrier bars for the selective operation thereof said selectingmechanism being operated periodically by said slur bar.

16. In a flat hosieryknitting machine provided with a reciprocablefriction rod and a multiplicity of carrier rods, carrier rod drivingmechanism comprising a friction device frictionally engaged with saidfriction rod, carrier rod driving means carried by said friction device,means upon each carrer rod for establishing a driving connection withthe driving means,- and selector cams adapted tomove with said frictiondevice and operated from a power member of the knitting machine, forselectively engaging and disengaging the said carrier rod driving meansfrom the connecting.

' means on the several carrier rods.

. 17. In a flat hosiery knitting machine provided 1 with a reciprocablefriction rod, main cam shaft, and a multiplicity of carrier rods,carrier rod driving mechanism comprising a friction device rod drivinglevers pivotally supported upon said frictionally engaged with saidfriction rod, carrier frictiondevice, means upon each carrier rod forestablishing a driving connection with the driving levers, selectorelements adapted to move with said friction device and having operativeconnection with said main cam shaft for selectively engaging anddisengaging said carrier rod driving levers from the connecting means onthe several carrier rods.

18. In a flat hosiery knitting machine provided with a reciprocablefriction rod, a slur bar, and a multiplicity of carrier rods, carrierrod driving mechanism comprising a friction device friction-- allyengaged with said friction rod, carrier rod driving means carried bysaid friction device, means upon each carrier rod for establishing adriving connection with the driving means, selector cams adapted to movewith said friction device and having an operative connection with saidslur bar 'to be operated thereby for selectively engaging anddisengaging said carrier rod driving means from the connecting means ofsaid carrier rods. I

19. In a flat knitting machine provided with a reciprocable frictionrod, carrier rods, and a slur bar, carrier rod driving mechanismcomprising a friction device frictionally engaged with said frictionrod. a multiplicity of carrier rod driving means carried by saidfriction device, each of which is engageable with a different carrierrod, means upon each carrier rod for establishing a driving connectionwith its respective driving means, and means having an operativeconnection with said slur bar tobe operated thereby and adapted to movewith said friction device for independently engaging and'disengagingeach of said carrier rod driving means from the concams rotatable withsaid selector shaft, one in alignment with each finger and engageablethere: with to move it in timed relation with the movement of the otherfingers, and means having anoperative connection with said main camshaftfor rotating said selector shaft in timed relation the knitting machine.

21. In combination with the friction box of a full-fashioned knittingmachine adapted for travel in opposite directions for variabledistances,'yarn carrier rod operating arms mounted for independentindividual movements relative to said friction box and adapted to becarried as a group by said friction box in the travel thereof; meansalso carried by said friction box to move therewith for selectivelyoperating said arms for independent individual engagement with thecarrier bars of the knitting machine; and means for operating said firstmentioned means from an operating part of the knitting machine inaccordance with the variable distances of travel of said friction box.

22. An attachment for a full-fashioned hosiery knitting machinecomprising, in combination: a plurality of yarn carrier rods, aplurality of driving devices one for each carrier rod, driving mechanismfor said devices, and means for selectively determining the carrier rodto be driven by its associated driving device, said means including ashaft paralleling the carrier rods, a plurality of independent-cams onsaid shaft operatively associated with said devices to selectively.control the carrier rods operated thereby, and means for operating saidshaft from a movable part of the knitting machine.

23. An attachment for a full-fashioned hosiery knitting machinecomprising, in combination: a slur bar, a plurality of yarn carrierrods, a plurality of driving devices one for each carrier rod, drivingmechanism for said devices, means for selectively determining thecarrier rod to be driven by its associated driving device, said meansincluding a shaft paralleling the carrier rods, a

plurality of independent cams on said shaft operatively associated withsaid device to selectively control the carrier rodsoperated thereby, andmeans for operating said shaft from said slur bar.

24. An attachment for full-fashioned hosiery knitting machinescomprising, in combination: a slur bar, a friction box, a carrier rod, adriving element for said carrier rod supported by said box,

a cam carried by said friction box and controlling the driving of saidrod by said element, and means periodically operated by said slur barfor periodically operating said cam.

25. An attachment for full-fashioned hosiery knitting machinescomprising, in combination: a slur bar, a main cam shaft, a friction boxdriven variable distances by the main cam shaft, a carrier rod, adriving element for said carrier rod carried by said box, a shaftparalleling said carrier rod, a cam mounted on said shaft and carried bysaid friction box and adapted to operate in any of the positions of saidfriction box to connect and disconnect said element from said rod, andmeans operated by said slur bar in any of the positions of said frictionbox for giving movement to said cam.

26. An attachment for full-fashioned hosiery knitting machinescomprising, in combination: a plurality of yarn carrier rods, slidablymounted driving mechanism for said carrier rods adapted to have aselective drive connection with said rods to drive the same variabledistances and including a plurality of drive elements one for each rod,a shaft extending lengthwise of the knitting machine, a plurality ofrotatable cams one for each element, and adapted to be operated by saidshaft for selectively establishing a drive connec-- tion between theelements and said rods, said cams associated with said mechanism to movetherewith in the sliding of the mechanism, and

means partially rotating said shaft periodically from a movable part ofsaid knitting machine.

27. An attachment for full-fashioned hosiery knitting machinescomprising, in combination: a slur bar, a plurality of yarn carrierrods, slidably mounted driving mechanism for said carrier rods adaptedto have a selective drive connection with said rods and including aplurality of drive elements, one for each rod, a shaft extendinglengthwise of the knitting machine, a plurality of rotatable cams, onefor each element, and adapted to be operated by said shaft forselectively establishing a drive connection between the elements andsaid rods, said cams associated with said mechanism to move therewith inthe sliding of the mechanism, and means partially rotating said shaftperiodically from the slur bar of the knitting machine.

28. An attachment for full-fashioned hosiery knitting machinescomprising, in combination: a main cam shaft, a friction rod, aplurality of yarn carrier rods, slidably mounted driving mechanism forsaid carrier rods having a variable drive connection with said frictionrod and adapted to have a selective drive connection with said rods andincluding a plurality of drive elements one for each rod, a shaftextending lengthwise of the knitting machine, a plurality of rotatablecams, one for each element and adapted to be operated by said shaft forselectively establishing a drive connection between the elements andsaid rods, said cams associated with said mechanism to move therewith inthe sliding of the mechanism, and means partially rotating said shaftperiodically from the main cam shaft of the knitting machine.

29.'In a fiat full-fashioned hosiery knitting machine provided with areciprocal friction rod, a. main cam shaft, and a multiplicity ofcarrier rods, carrier rod driving mechanism comprising a friction devicefrictionally engaged with said friction rod, carrier rod drivingelements pivotally supported by said friction device, means upon eachcarrier rod for establishing a driving connection with the drivingmeans, and selector eleshaft of said machine, a plurality of yarncarrier bars with yarn carriers thereon, a friction rod, a friction boxfor connecting the carrier bars with said rod, selector controlmechanism carried by the friction box and including an actuating elementand a selector positioned by said element for engaging a bar to betraversed, a shaft whereon said element is mounted, a ratchet fast onsaid shaft, a movable pawl engaging the ratchet, and means subject togovernance by said main cam shaft for controlling the motion of saidpawl.

31. The combination in a flat knitting machine of a plurality oflongitudinally reciprocal thread carrier bars, a variable stroke drivingelement operable parallel to and for actuation of said bars, meanscarried by said driving element for selectively coupling said barsthereto, and actuating means for said selective coupling means havingconstant motion parallel to and in excess of the maximum movement ofsaid driving element.

32. The combination in a flat knitting machine of a plurality oflongitudinally reciprocal thread 76 carrier bars, a variable strokedriving element operable parallel to and for actuation of said bars,means carried by said driving element for selectively coupling said barsthereto, and actuating means for said selective coupling means havingconstant motion parallel to, concurrently with, and in excess of themaximum movement of said driving element.

33. The combination in, a flat knitting machine of a plurality oflongitudinally reciprocal thread carrier bars, a friction box fordriving said bars, a slur cock bar operable parallel to said frictionbox, means carried by said friction box for selectively coupling saidbars thereto, and means carried by said slur cock par for actuating saidcarrier bars, driving elements for said bars respectively, driving meansfor said bars operable parallel thereto and including a plurality ofrotary laterally spaced operators provided with a plurality of lugs andintermediate spaces, and means for actuating said operatorsintermittently for aligning predetermined lugs and spaces thereof withpredetermined elements for selectively coupling said bars to saiddriving means.

36. The combination with a device adapted for driving a plurality oflongitudinally reciprocal thread carrier bars of a flat hosiery knittingmachine, of a plurality of rotary operators carried by said drivingdevice and respectively provided with a plurality of lugs andintermediate spaces for selectively coupling said device to the carrierrods.

37. The combination with a device adapted for driving a plurality oflongitudinally reciprocal thread carrier bars of a full-fashionedhosiery knitting machine, of a pair of rotary operators carried by saiddriving device and respectively provided with a plurality of lugs andintermediate spaces, a plurality of driving elements associated with thecarrier bars and with said rotary operators whereby said lugs andintermediate spaces selectively control the connecting of the carrierrods with said device, and a cam for reciprocation parallel to, with,and in excess of said driving device to actuate said rotary operators.

38. The combination in a flat knitting machine of a plurality oflongitudinally reciprocal-thread carrier bars, a friction box drive rodlongitudinally reciprocal parallel to said carrier bars, .a friction boxmounted on said drive rod, means for connecting the friction box to thecarrier bars including a plurality of rotary operators carried by saidfriction box and provided with a plurality of camming lugs, and ratchetmechanism for intermittently rotating said'rotary operators forselectively coupling said carrierbars to said friction box.

39. In a straight or full-fashioned knitting machine having a pluralityof thread carrying rods, a

' friction rod and slur bar; the combination of a slur bar controlledselector operable under the action of the slur bar to selectively engagethe respective thread carrying rods, and an operative connection betweensaid selector and friction rod whereby to cause the two to move"together in the operation of the machine. 1 ARTHUR W. MUTCHLER.

